Introduction to Digital Accessibility
What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility refers to the design and development of digital content, applications, and services that are usable by all people, including those with disabilities. It ensures that websites, mobile apps, electronic documents, and other digital tools are accessible to individuals who may use assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, or alternative input devices.
Related webinar recording: Intro to Digital Accessibility
05/28/2024
password: aX7Vb67h
go.ncdpi.gov/webinar_intro
Who is Responsible?
Everyone involved in the creation, management, procurement and maintenance of digital content holds responsibility for ensuring accessibility. This includes web developers, designers, content creators, project managers, and educators. It is a collaborative effort that requires awareness and commitment from all stakeholders to make digital environments inclusive.
Why is Digital Accessibility Important?
- Equal Access: Digital accessibility promotes inclusivity by providing equal access to information and services for people with disabilities. It ensures that everyone can participate fully in the digital world.
- Compliance: Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require that state and local governments, including K-12 public schools, provide equal access to services, activities, and programs.
- Enhanced User Experience: Accessible design often leads to improved usability for all users, not just those with disabilities. For example, features like captions, alt text, and clear navigation can benefit everyone.
Types of Digital Content
Digital accessibility applies to various types of content including, but not limited to:
- Web content: Ensuring that web pages are navigable and understandable by users with disabilities.
- Documents: Making PDFs, Word documents, and other formats accessible with proper formatting and tags.
- Multimedia: Providing captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions for videos and audio content.
- Software and Applications: Designing software interfaces and mobile apps that are operable by users with different abilities.
- Online Forms: Creating forms that are easily navigable and usable with assistive technologies.
Core Principles of Digital Accessibility
To create truly accessible digital content, it's essential to follow the core principles of digital accessibility, often summarized by the acronym POUR: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. These principles ensure that digital environments are inclusive and usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive, regardless of their sensory abilities.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable, ensuring all users can interact with the digital content.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable, providing clear and concise instructions and feedback.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.